6/10/2014

Hard to believe now, but back in 1994, Sandra Bullock was not a household name. Frankly, not many people had any idea who she was. Keanu Reeves was a bankable and known name, with Point Break, proving his ability to pull off both action and drama. Jan de Bont had been a cinematographer of big block-buster action hits . . . Speed, however, was his directorial debut. With Dennis Hopper cast as the villain and an unrelenting amount of tension provided by a bomb on a bus that would detonate if the speed dropped below 50 MPH, it was a concept that could do no wrong.

Thankfully, the film did no wrong and it went on to be the 8th highest grossing film of the year. This was the film that finally gave Sandra Bullock's career the break it had needed. From that moment on, she was a movie star that would go on to have one of the most successful careers in the business (earning, according to Forbes, abound $15 million a picture.)

Happy 20th Birthday to Speed, one of the best action movies you'll ever see.